"We're showing the homeless that we care," said sophomore middle linebacker Conner Hoyt. "It's a good gesture to make."

The Thunder Mountain High School football team collected about eight garbage bags full of blankets, sleeping bags, jackets, gloves, snow pants and other winter clothing items to donate for Thane Campground, which the city recently decided to keep open through the winter.

Head coach Bill Byouer said that for the team, the drive shows they value the whole community.

"We here at TMHS want to give back to the community because the community is here for us," he said.

Byouer and the team also appreciate the city's decision in leaving the campgrounds open.

"This hopefully will show compassion and thinking about others then themselves in regards to the players," he said. "I feel we are all one disaster away from needing help from someone. We should all look at how rewarding it is to just help out in any area."

"We saw that it was the right thing to do," Hoyt added. "We're just helping them out."